Part 3 in a series of 3.

Although no one knows what the future holds, it is guaranteed that the workplace will continued to be redefined and reshaped. Career and job continuity now has new rules.  Both are linked to a positive attitude regarding your willingness to risk, stay flexible, recover quickly, explore options, and be accountable for your career moves and professional shifts.  Stay focused and competitive by being alert to new trends and needed skills/competencies, and committed to lifelong learning.

 Steps seven through ten will take you the rest of the way...

7. Network the right way.  Systematic targeted networking is key to a successful job hunt campaign allowing you to obtain the needed information, resources, and support in your search for new employment.  Before starting any network activity, think about the desired results.  Is it to gain visibility, learn about position openings, receive an introduction or referral, or make a connection?

Take a long-term perspective regarding your network contacts. Integrate networking into your life so that you are “in the right spot at the right time.” Keep people informed about your job hunting status, types of jobs and employers you are considering, geographic locations you are looking at, other aspects of your search.  Always make your request in a direct, explicit, targeted, and non-aggressive manner and follow up on outcomes.

8. Develop an action plan.  An action plan presents the steps and activities needed to carry out a job search or marketing campaign in an organized and efficient fashion.  It helps to determine commitments, set deadlines, review progress, evaluate results, and revise strategies as needed.  The initial step is set your job search or marketing campaign goal.  Note the initial review date and establish the next date (reviews should take place every four to six weeks.
An action plan has 3 parts:
 a. List activities and their status – have not begun, incomplete, or complete.  Activities can include: identify work content skills, transferable skills, relevant experiences and/or successes, create a professional niche, write a targeted resume, develop a presentation, attend networking events, submit resumes, prepare for job interviews, and any other related activity that you find is necessary. 
 b. List activities not as yet begun or incomplete with their component tasks.  Set completion deadline for each one.
 c. Assess progress of job search or marketing campaign by asking yourself such questions as: “Do I need to re-examine my work goal and why or why not?” “Am I pleased with the progress of my campaign and why or why not?” “Does my action plan need to be revised or deadlines modified and why or why not?” If yes, what are the changes that need to be made?  List them.

9. Assess the best job offer.  If you are not sure about whether or not to accept a job offer, review your priorities to be sure that you are not taking the position just because it is the one on the table. Do a balance sheet listing your priorities and note the ones you think are good or reasonable matches.  Factors to review include: salary/compensation, benefits, perks, job title, job description, responsibilities, organizational culture, specific skills/knowledge used, advancement/learning possibilities, and other considerations such as commute/travel/time requirements.  To accept a job offer that you feel is a good match for you, at least four of your top priorities should be checked.
 
10. Build a new work identity/look to the future.  As an experienced employee, you know it is your responsibility to make an effective and efficient transition into a new job.  Success within the first year is in your hands.  Take an in-depth look at how you are evolving professionally.  When you can present your revised professional image and role with confidence, the transition period is over and you know you have truly settled into your new work arena.